Gland-control mechanism



Nov. 16 1926. 1,606,871 w. a. FLANDERS 4 GLAND CONTROL MECHANI SM Filed April 2. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 amdezw' wITNESSE INVENTOR Z06 BY 4 v ATTORNEY W. B. FLANDERS GLAND CONTROL MECHANISM Nov. 16 1926. 1,606,871

Filed April 2'. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ITNESSE INVENTOR BY I I ATTORNEY Nov. 16,1926. 1,606,871

w. B. FLANDERS GLAND CONTROL MECHANI SM INVENTOR ATTORNEY ldatented Nov. 1%, 1%26.

UNITED STATES rarest .orrlcs.

WARREN B. FLANDERS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC'AND MANUEACTURZNG COMPAHY, A GORPQRATION OF PENN- sYLvAnLa.

GLAND-CONTROL MECHANISM.

Application filed April 2,

My invention relates to glands for insuring a. seal between a rotor and its cas ng such, for example, as used in connection with steam turbines and like apparatus, and it has for its object to provide apparatus of this character which shall utilize fluids of d" ent gravities and which shall incorpo ra'W means responsive to the speed of the apparatus or machine for changing from one iluid to another dependent upon the speed of the apparatus. e

A further object of my invention is to provide apparatus of the character referred to which shall assure the complete opening 1 closing of the valves controlling the supp s of fluids to the gland upon a predetermined change in speed.

Apparatus made in accordance my invention is illustrated in the accompanying the. e, forming a part of this application,

whicn Fig. 1 is a view showing my 1mproved gland control mechanism associated with a gland and with a pressure-developing device 2 is a sectional view taken along the line iI-l1 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sec tional view taken along the line lII III of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a modified form of my inven tion.

ater is ordinarily used in the glands of a steam turbine to seal the interior thereof 113G111 the outside; however, when the speed 'ne diminishes to a given extent the c narifugal force imparted to the water is in- 'cient to cause the latter to constitute an euective seal. Therefore, glands of this type ordinarily incorporate a water gland portion for operation at normal speeds and a steam gland portion which is elfective when the turbine speed drops below a value which the water seal may be maintained.

My invention relates to automatic means which is responsive to the speed of the turone or like apparatus to automatically shift valves which control the water and steam s pplied to the gland portions. A particur feature of this automatic means is a valve mechanism which is moved initially bv pressure-responsive means to either as- ,re building-up or the relief of pressure in a pressure-operated mechanism for opening and closing the supply valves, the initial movement of the pressure-operated mechanism resulting in such movement of the 1923. Serial No. 625,526.

mechanism and of thesupply valves in opening and closing directions is assured. I

Referring. now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, in Fig. 1, T show my improved gland-control mechanism, at 10, for controlling the supply of fluids of different gravities, for 6X- ample, steam and water, to the gland, at 11, arran ed between a rotor 12 and a casin 13, for example, of a steam turbine. The gland-control mechanism, at 10, incorporates a suitable pressureresponsive element which receives fluid under pressure from the impeller 1 of the impeller pump, at 15, the impeller beingv carried by a shaft 16 which is operated by the machine so that the pressure of fluid developed varies as a function of the speed of the machine.

The glandcontrol mechanism includes-a pressureresponsive element which, as may be seen from Fig. 2, consists of a movable abutment or piston 17, within the cylinder 18, the space beneath the piston or abutment which passes through the head 23 of the cylinder 18 and such stem is connected toa floating lever 25, which is pivotally connected to the pilot valve mechanism, at 26, and to the pressure operated mechanism, at 27 The pilot valve mechanism, at 26, includes an inner pilot valve 28 having piston portions 29, 30 and 31, arranged within the valve cylinder 32 and serving to control the supply of fluid under pressure passing from the port or passage 33. communicating with the pressure supply line 19, to the pressure supply passage 34, which leads to the operated mechanism, at 27, and the exhaust of fluid from the operated mechanism through the passages 34 and 35. p

The pressure-operated mechanism, at 27, includes a cylinder 36 containing a movable passageway is placed in communication with the exhaust passage 35.

The operating piston or abutment 37 is provided with a stem 39 which extends through the cover 40 of the cylinder 35', and it is provided with a member 41 to which the floating lever aforesaid is pivotally connected. V 4

From the structure described, it will be apparent that when the pilot valve 28 is moved to establish communication between thepressure supplypassage and the passage 34 and to interrupt communication of the latter passage with the exhaust passage35, the operating piston or abutment 37 is'moved upwardly and that movement of the latter element inthat direction results in further movement of the piston valve 28 in order to maintain communication between the passages 33 and 34 toas sure a quick and complete traverse movement of the operating piston or abutment 37.

On the other hand, with a decline in pressure of fluid, the pressure-responsive piston or abutment 17 moves downwardly so as to place the passage 34 of the operating cylinder 36 in communication with the exhaust passage 35, thereby permitting of the operating piston or abutment 37 moving downwardly under the influence of the spring 37. This downward movement of the operating piston or abutment 37 results in downward movement of the left-hand end of the floating lever 25, with the result that the pilot valve 28 is moved downwardlyto assure the maintenance of communication between the passage 34 and the exhaust passage 35 to secure a full traverse movement of the operating piston or abutment37 underthe influence of the spring 38. A stud 43 is carried by the operating piston or abutment 37 to limit movement of the latter due to the spring 38.

The operating piston 37 contains a stem element 44 arranged within the stem 39 and having a head 45 at its lower end, and a spring 46 is arranged between the head 45 and a cap 47 carried by the operating piston or abutment 37. The upper end of the stem 44 is pivotally connected to a lever 43, fulcrumed, at 49, and pivotally connected to the stems 51 and 52 of the steam and water supply valves 53 and 54, respectively. The

partition 58, the housing is provided with an outlet chamber 60, which communicates with the line 61 for supplying steam to the steam gland portion 62 01 the gland, at 11. A spring 63 is preferably arranged within the chamber and around the stem 51 to exert its force against the valve so that the latter may firmly seat against the seat '59. From the structure, it will be apparent that'the valve 53 is opened upon upward movement and closed upon downward movement.

Turning now to the water valve construction, the housing 65 is provided with water supply chamber 66, communicating with the water supply line't37 and with a gland supply chamber 68 the latter communicating with the water gland portion .69 of the gland, at 11, by way of the water line 70, the chambers 66 and 68 being separated by a partition 71, which has a seat 72 for the valve 54, connected to the stem 52. A spring 73 is arranged beneath the valve 54 and it tends to move the latter upwardly to fully seat it.

From the apparatus described in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the operation thereof will be apparent. The pressure-responsive element or piston 17 moves in response to pressure sup plied by the pump 15 and by the spring 20 to move the pilot or piston valve 28 to establish communication of the passage 34 either with the pressure supply'passage r with the exhaust passage 35 and to interrupt communication between the passage 34 and the other of said passages 33 and Upon movement of the pilot valve 28 in this way, the operating piston or abutment 37 is either moved up, under the influence of fluid under pressure, or it is moved down by the spring 38,, when the space beneath the operating piston is placed in communication with the exhaust. The connection of the pressure-responsive element 17, the pilot valve 28, and the operating piston or abutment 3? to a floating lever 25 assures that, upon initial movement of the pilot valve to supply fluid under pressure to the operating cylinder or to exhaust fluid therefrom, the operating piston or abutment 37 moves the piston valve 28 in such a direction as to maintain the initial fluid connection so that the operating piston or abutment may be quickly traversed in either direction to its fullest extent. A slight movement of the pilot valve is, therefore, sufiicient to secure the desired initial operation of the operating piston, and after such operation has started the pilot valve is so moved as to assure the continued operation of the operated piston until the latter has effected a complete stroke.

Upward movement of the operating piston 3'7 resuits in movement of the lever 48 about its fulcrum 19 to move the valve rods 51 and 52 downwardly so as to close the steam valve and to open the water valve.

reason that the supply of both fluids to the gland at 11 should never be interrupted. Upon downward movement of the operating piston 37 in respons to a decrease in fluid pressure incident to reduced turbine speed, the valve stems 5l'and 52 are moved up wardly to open the steam valve and to close the wat r valve.

t will be noted that a spring 16 is incorporated in the connection between the operating piston 37 and the stem 44 so that up ward movement of the operating piston may be communicated to the lever 18 and to the valve stems 51 and 52 in a yielding i'nanner. This assures that, upon upward movement of the operating piston 3'? to its fullest extent the valve 58 shall be maintained in contact with its seat- 59 under the tension of said spring. This effect is also assisted by the spring 68 surrounding the valve stem 51. Also the use of the spring e6 serves as an adjustable connection so that the stroke of the operating piston 37 may possibly be longer than that required to operate the valves. In other words. downward movement of the operating piston 87 may be liinited by properly adjusting the stud 13, whereas upward movement of the stem 44 would be limited by the amount required to secure closure of the steam valve and opening of the water'valve. In this way, the range of movement of the stem 44 may be less than that of the operating piston 37, the difference being absorbed by lengthening and shortening of the spring 16. Also the spring d6 may serve to absorb looseness in the connections between the stem 1 1 and the valve stems 51 and 52.

The spring 63, arranged around the stem 51 of the steam valve 53, assists in urging the l.lL8l.' toward its seat 59, the valve 53 preferably incorporating a connection 53 with the stem 51 so that the valve may be fully seated withoutv sticking or jamming,- the spring 63 assuring of a tight seating thereof.

The water valve 5a also preferably includes a connection 54: with the stem 52 so that the valve 5% may be fully seated without binding or sticking and the spring 73 serves to secure seating of this va ve whenv the stems 51 and 52 move upwardly incident to downward movementof the operating piston 37. 5

Referring to the modified form of my invention shown in Fig. 41, 1 show a gland, at 11, and a centrifugal impeller pump, at 15,

similar to those shown in Fig. 1, cooperating -with a slightly different type of apparatus for securing a sudden change in the supply of water and steam for t e gland dependent upon the turbine speed. in this view, I show the centrifugal. pump connection 19 leading to a pressure responsive device, at 75, including a cylinder 76 and an operating piston 77. Fluid under pressure acts beneath the piston 77 to move the latter upwardly a spring 78 cooperates with the upper side of the piston to move it down-" wardly.

The operating piston 77 is provided with a stem 79, which is provided with an interior shoulder 80 fitting above the head 81 of a stem 82, a spring 83 being arranged between the stem 79 and an adjustable abutment 8% carried by the stem 82 ;This construction permits of a yieldable transmission of movement from the stem 79 to the stem 82 upon upward movement of the former and of a positive pull of the stem 82 by the stem 2': when the shoulder 80 is in contact with the head 81.

The stem 82 is pivotally to a lever 86, fulcrummed ally connected, at 88, to a stem 89, which has collars between which fits one end of the lever 91. fulcrummed at and having its end '93 engaging between abutments 4 of the valve member 95, which controls the er:- haust of fluid from beneath the operating piston 96. i

The operating piston 96 is arranged within an operating cylinder 97 having asteam supply port 98. thereabove, said port communicating with a steam supply line 98. The operating piston 96 is provided with a portion 99 of smaller diameter projecting upwardly and term'nating in a valve portion 100, cooperating with a. seat 101 car ried by the housing, which provides a space 102 above the seat 101 and communicating with the passageway 103 leading to the connected, at 85,

steam line 61.

The operating piston 96 is carried by a hollow stem 104, which incorporates a seat 105 and a passageway 106 communicating with the space beneath the operating pisten 96. v

As the piston area beneath the piston 96 at 7, and pivoti is greater than that above the piston, with movement of the valve to fit against the seat 105, steam which leaks bythe piston builds up pressure therebelow resulting in upward movement of the piston to move the valve into contact with its seat 101 to mterrupt the supply of steam-from the passage 98 to the passages or chambers 102 and V by the seat 105 enters the chamber 106 from which it escapes by the outlet 106".

The stem 10% is connected to a water valve 106, which controls communication between the water inlet 10'? and the water outlet 108 communicating with the water line 70 leading to the water gland portion 69. A lostmotion connection 110 is preferably provided between the stem 10a and the water valve 106 so that the effective movement of the stem 1041 may be greater than that of the valve, thereby assuring that the Water valve 106 will be closed by its spring 111 when the stem 10 1 is moved downwardly su'h'i ciently so that the shoulder 112 ceases to contact with the lower face of the head 113.

In principle, the operation of apparatus illustrated in Fig. 4: is similar to that here tofore described. As soon as the turbine speed declines so as to maintain pressure below a predetermined amount, the pressureresponsive piston 77 moves downwardly to pull the lever 86 downwardly and to move the valve 95 upwardly from its seat 105.

Thereupon, pressure beneath the operating piston 96 is immediately relieved, resulting in sudden downward movement of the piston to establish communication between the steam supply 98 and "the steam gland 61. It will be noted that just as soon as the valve 95 is unseated from its seat 105 in the slightest degree, movement of the operating piston 96 takes place in such a direction as to assist in the relief of pressure below the piston, thereby assuring full traverse movement of the latter so that the steam valve may be opened and the water valve 106 may be closed under the influence of the spring 111. Assuming that the turbine speed should increase so as to develop pressure of fluid by the pump 15 beyond a predetermined amount, then the pressure-responsive piston 77 moves upwardly and the upward motion thereof is transmitted through the spring 83 to the stem 82, resulting in upward movement of the right-hand end of the lever 86, upward movement of the stem 89, and downward movement of the valve95.

Just as soon as the valve 95 comes in con tact with its seat 105, exhaust from beneath the piston 96 is cut oil and pressure beneath the piston starts to buildup. When the )lGSSUFG beneath the piston 96 becomes sufliciently great, the piston moves upwardly in a dillerential manner; and, it will be noted that the movement is in sucha direction as to secure cooperation of the seat 105. 'Wltll the valve 95, thereby assuring closure I a direction as to secure assistance in that the stem 10d moves in such a direction as to secure wider opening of the valve 95 in case of exhaust or a tendency to maintain closure of the valve in case of building up of pressure beneath the piston 96. In a similar way,rthe pilot valve of Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, is merely given an incipient movement by the pressure-responsive device to give the proper fluid connection to the operating cylinder, the resulting movement of the operating piston moving the valve to ensure a complete traverse of the piston.

From the apparatus described, it will be apparent that I have provided apparatus wherein only a slight movement of a pressure-responsive device is suiiicient to secure complete traverse movement to open or to close steam and water valves for steam and water gland portions of a gland of a steam turbine or like apparatus.

While I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible 0'1 various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placedt-hereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are means connected with the operating device for accelerating and assuring complete movement of the. control means.

till

2. The combination with a machine requiring fluids of dif erent gravities in accordance with the speed thereof, of lines for supplying the fluids of different gravities, valves in the lines, speed-responsive means operated by the machine, an operating device including an abutment connected to the valves for opening and closing the latter, pressure means for operating the abutment in one direction when the pressure at the other side of the abutment declines, and a control valve operated by the speed-re sponsive device to control the building up or relief of pressure at said other side of the abutment and including an element movable by the abutment to assure rapid building up or relief of pressure and the complete traverse of the abutment to open and to close the valves.

3. The combination with a machine requiring-fluids of different gravities in accordance with the speed thereof, lines for supplying the fluids of different gravities, valves in the lines, an operating piston for opening and closing the valves, pressure means effective to move the operating piston in one direct-ion and a valve for controlling the building up and relief of pressure effective on the piston in the other direction and including an element movable by the piston to assure the rapid building up and relief of pressure and the complete traverse of the piston to open and close the valves.

4:. The combination with a gland con struction for a machine and, having steam and water gland portions, lines for supplying water and steam to the glands, valves in the lines, a movable abutment for opening and closing the valves, pressure means effective to move the abutment in one direction, a valve for controlling the building up of fluid pressure to overcome said pressure means to secure movement of the abutment in the other direction and for relieving the fluid pressure to render said pressure means efiective, said valve including an element which is moved by the abutment to assure suiflcient relief or application of pressure to the abutment to secure full traverse movement of the latter and full opening and closing movement of said valves, a pressureresponsive device cooperating with said controlling valve, and means operated by the machine for developing pressure of fluid which varies as a function of the speed of the machine for application to said pressureresponsive device.

5. The combination with a gland con struction for a machine and having steam and water gland portions, lines for supplying steam and water to the gland por ions, valves in the lines, a movable element for opening and closing the valves, pressure means cooperating with one side of the element, means for building up and for relieving pressure on the other side of the element, pressure-responsive means for controlling theoperation of the latter means, and means operated by the machine for developing pressure of fluid which varies as a function of the speed thereof and for sup- I plying such fluid to the prcsureresponsive means. The combination with a gland construcmachine and having steam and .l portions, of lines for supplying water to the gland portions, 'nes, an operating piston for tion for a machine and having gland porfor fluids of differentgravities, of

fluid supply lines for the gland portions, valves in the supply lines, means for cle- .nd closing the valves, a pressure responsive device, means for developing pressure of fluid in accordance with the z The combination with a gland construc-;

veloping pressure of fluid which varies as a function of the speed of the machine, flu d-pressure operated mechanism for openand closing the valves. a valve for con-V trolling the admission of fluid under pres.

sure to said operating mechanism and the exhaust of fluid therefrom, means responsive to the pressure of fluid developed by,

said pressure-developing means to secure movement of the controlling valve to an ini-- tial position to supply or exhaust fluid from the operated mechanism, and a connection between the operated mechanism and the controlling valve to secure movement of the latter in such a direction as to assure the continuance of the supply of pressure fluid to the operated mechanism or the exhaust of fluid therefrom throughout the traverse movement thereof.

8. A fluid-pressure operated mechanism comprising an operated element, a Valve for controlling the admission and exhaust of r fluid to the operated element, a pressure-responsive device, a connection be tween the pressure-responsive device and the valve whereby the latter may be moved to an initial pressure supply or exhausting position for the operated element, and a connection between the operated element and the valve to assure movement of the valve in such a dir ction as to assure a continuan e of the supply or exhaust connection with the operated element throughout the traverse movement thereof.

9. Pressuremperated mechanism comprismg an operating cylinder, an operating plston within the cylinder, a spring atone slde 0t the piston, afluid-supply passage comwith the exhaust passage throughout the traverse movement of the operating piston.

10. A pressure-operated mechanism com prising an operating element, means for biasing the operating element at one side thereof, valve mechanism for controlling the building up and relief of pressure at the other side of the operating element, a valve, a pressure-responsive device connected to the valve mechanism to secure initial movement thereof to connect the pressure supply or the exhaust with the operating element, and a connection between the operating element'and the valve mechanism to assure such operation of the valve mechanism that the operating element is completely traversed in either direction.

11. Pressure-operated mechanism comprising an operating element, a spring cooperating i 'ith one side of the operating eleinent, pressure supply and exhaust connecan initial position for supplying pressure fluid to the operating element or for exhausting fluid therefrom, and a connection be tween the operating element and thevalve to secure such movement of the valve resulting from movement of the operating element that the valve maintains a continuance of the connection initially established by the pressure-responsive device throughout the traverse movement of the operating element.

12. The combination with a gland construction of the steam and water type for steam turbine, of steam and water lines for the gland construction, valves in said lines, an operating element for opening and closing the valves, pressure means for one side of the operating element, valve mechan n for controlling the building up anti react of pressure at the other side of said operating element, a pressure-responsive de-' vice connected to the valve mechanism, means for developing pressure of fluid which varies as a function of the speed of the turbine and which is connected to said pressure-responsive device, and a connection between the operating element and the valve mechanism to assure maintenance of the building-up or relief of pressure at one side of said operating element throughout the traverse movement 01 the latter in either direction.

In testimony whereof, I have hereuntov subscribed my name this 29th day of March WARREN rnaunnss. 

